MACRO, Oakland’s non-police response program that addresses quality of life issues and helps people experiencing homelessness and some behavioral health issues, is in dire need of reform, according to a range of people, including some who have supported the program as well as critics.
Launched in April 2022 and housed in the Oakland Fire Department, the Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland program diverts non-emergency calls from the Oakland Police Department to unarmed civilians. MACRO’s goals are to reduce police and fire department call volumes and expenses, and lower the risk of police escalating a nonviolent situation into a violent or potentially lethal one.
During a meeting of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, MACRO Program Manager Elliott Jones defended the program, telling committee members about its accomplishments in 2024 and the first three months of 2025…